The Christian Post, March 8, 2009

Afghans Can't Be Sure of Even One Meal a Day, Says Aid Group

Afghanistan is facing the most severe drought in a decade that has deepened the country’s food crisis

Drought-stricken and internally displaced, many Afghans can’t even be assured of one good meal a day for themselves and their family, reported a Church World Service staff on Friday.

Oxfam International, a U.K.-based relief agency, estimated last fall that five million people in Afghanistan will face severe food shortages this winter. Photo: RAWA

"Life continues to be difficult for all Afghans, but the tens of thousands of displaced Afghans and returnees from Pakistan and Iran are particularly at risk," says CWS Asia and Pacific Region Coordinator Marvin Parvez, who has also directed the CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan program.

Afghanistan is facing the most severe drought in a decade that has deepened the country’s food crisis. Oxfam International, a U.K.-based relief agency, estimated last fall that five million people in Afghanistan will face severe food shortages this winter.

In response to the dire needs, Church World Service announced on Friday that it was providing immediate assistance to the most vulnerable in three hard-hit provinces – Nangarhar, Takhar, and Laghman.

In these areas, drought has severely affected the food security and there has been an influx of returnees from neighboring countries, resulting in increased demand for food.

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According to the United Nations, an estimated 4.4 billion pounds (2.2 million tons) of cereals need to be imported to the country this year to meet basic needs. About 3 billion pounds of cereals are expected to be imported commercially, but the rest will need to be supplied by international donors, the agency said.

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